Ryan Day Says Ohio State Quarterback Julian Sayin Out Indefinitely With Shoulder Injury
Ohio State coach Ryan Day announced that quarterback Julian Sayin is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, and the Buckeyes are preparing for the regular season and postseason without him. True freshman Luke Fahey will start moving forward.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, coach Ryan Day announced, and the Buckeyes are preparing for the possibility that their star passer will not return this season. Day said the team is building a plan for the regular season and the postseason without Sayin, a significant blow for a program ranked No. 3 in college football.
«First off, we’re not going to put any timeline on his recovery, but he is out indefinitely,» Day told reporters. «So, what we’re trying to do is give Julian and his family some privacy to go through this process. But based on the nature of the injury, we are putting together a plan for him not being available for the regular season and also him not being available for the postseason.»
The injury occurred in Ohio State’s 19-15 win over Indiana last weekend, when Hoosiers defender Mario Landino hit Sayin’s throwing shoulder while sacking him in the fourth quarter. The hit forced a fumble, and Sayin went to the locker room for evaluation. He later returned to the sideline wearing a sling. Day initially said Sayin would miss several weeks, but that timeline has now stretched to an indefinite absence.
Sayin had been among the top NFL Draft prospects this season, throwing for 1,772 yards with 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions. His loss removes a central piece of Ohio State’s offense as the Buckeyes enter the heart of their schedule. The team has a bye this weekend before traveling to face No. 16 USC on Halloween.
True freshman Luke Fahey, a three-star recruit out of California, took over after Sayin went down and will remain the starter moving forward. Day expressed confidence in the young quarterback’s ability to handle the moment.
«He’s got confidence, he’s got athletic ability, he’s a competitive kid,» Day said of Fahey. «I don’t think the moment was too big for him.»
Day acknowledged that the offense may need to adjust around Fahey’s skill set, and the bye week provides an opportunity to regroup. «When Luke’s in there, we just may need to do things just a little bit differently, but the bye week gives us a chance to regroup on that and put our heads together,» Day said.
Ohio State has not specified the exact nature of Sayin’s injury, but Day’s decision to prepare for the entire season without him suggests the coaching staff is bracing for a serious recovery. The Buckeyes will now lean on Fahey as they try to maintain their standing among the top teams in the country.
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